“Freedom in America Isn’t really free; We often pay a price To keep our liberty. Remember those we loved, Who fought for us, and died; And those we never knew For whom others mourned and cried. At home our “war” for freedom Is sadly overdue; We’ve let corruption stage A sad and grievous coup. No longer can we brush off Dishonesty and greed, Lust for wealth and power; We can’t, we won’t concede. Complacency is weakness Patriots can’t afford; We have to act on wrongs That cannot be ignored. We must give up some time, Spent on other pleasures, To restore America’s freedom, To keep America’s treasures. Money spent on trifles Must now go to our cause: Get rid of the offenders, Constitutional outlaws. Freedom in America Isn’t really free It’s up to American patriots; It’s up to you and me.” By Joanna Fuchs PC: @arlingtonmedia

Continue Reading“Freedom in America Isn’t really free; We often pay a price To keep our liberty. Remember those we loved, Who fought for us, and died; And those we never knew For whom others mourned and cried. At home our “war” for freedom Is sadly overdue; We’ve let corruption stage A sad and grievous coup. No longer can we brush off Dishonesty and greed, Lust for wealth and power; We can’t, we won’t concede. Complacency is weakness Patriots can’t afford; We have to act on wrongs That cannot be ignored. We must give up some time, Spent on other pleasures, To restore America’s freedom, To keep America’s treasures. Money spent on trifles Must now go to our cause: Get rid of the offenders, Constitutional outlaws. Freedom in America Isn’t really free It’s up to American patriots; It’s up to you and me.” By Joanna Fuchs PC: @arlingtonmedia

The Arlington House blanketed by a dusting of snow captured earlier this month by our team at @arlingtonmedia. Not only do we pride ourselves on accurately and respectfully capturing services for loved ones and family members to remember, but we also hope that our images can show parts of the cemetery and moments that are missed, passed-by, and sometimes unseen in the whirlwind of the experience. Photography immortalizes these moments as memories for generations to come — something we honored to do for America’s fallen heroes and their families.

Continue ReadingThe Arlington House blanketed by a dusting of snow captured earlier this month by our team at @arlingtonmedia. Not only do we pride ourselves on accurately and respectfully capturing services for loved ones and family members to remember, but we also hope that our images can show parts of the cemetery and moments that are missed, passed-by, and sometimes unseen in the whirlwind of the experience. Photography immortalizes these moments as memories for generations to come — something we honored to do for America’s fallen heroes and their families.

A caisson arrives at the gravesite of an honored veteran in Arlington National Cemetery. In this image captured by our team, a woman can be seen standing to the far left of the soldiers. This is a common sight at Arlington National Cemetery and this individual holds a special role. She is what is known as an “Arlington Lady”. In the words of ANC, “The Arlington Ladies are a group of volunteers who attend funeral services at Arlington National Cemetery to ensure that no Soldier, Sailor, Airman or Coast Guardsman is buried alone. The Arlington Ladies began in 1948 within the Air Force. The Chief of Staff of the Air Force, General Hoyt Vandenberg, and his wife, Gladys, routinely attended funeral services at the cemetery and noticed that some services had only a military chaplain present. The Vandenbergs believed that a member of the Air Force family should also attend, and Mrs. Vandenberg asked her friends to start attending services. She ultimately formed a group from the Officer’s Wives Club. In 1973, General Creighton Abrams’ wife, Julia, founded the Army’s version of the group. In 1985, the Navy created a group, and in 2006 the Coast Guard followed suit. The Marines do not officially have a group, as they send a representative of the Marine Commandant to every funeral. Today, the Air Force, Army, Navy and Coast Guard all have Arlington Ladies who perform similar volunteer duties, attending funeral services for active duty service members and veterans. The criteria to become an Arlington Lady is different for each military service, but each Lady has some connection to the respective service, generally as a current or former military member or as a spouse of a military member. The Ladies are an official part of the funeral service, representing the military service’s chief of staff or equivalent. They present cards of condolence to the next of kin from the military service chief and spouse on behalf of the service family, and from the Arlington Lady herself.” PC: @arlingtonmedia

Continue ReadingA caisson arrives at the gravesite of an honored veteran in Arlington National Cemetery. In this image captured by our team, a woman can be seen standing to the far left of the soldiers. This is a common sight at Arlington National Cemetery and this individual holds a special role. She is what is known as an “Arlington Lady”. In the words of ANC, “The Arlington Ladies are a group of volunteers who attend funeral services at Arlington National Cemetery to ensure that no Soldier, Sailor, Airman or Coast Guardsman is buried alone. The Arlington Ladies began in 1948 within the Air Force. The Chief of Staff of the Air Force, General Hoyt Vandenberg, and his wife, Gladys, routinely attended funeral services at the cemetery and noticed that some services had only a military chaplain present. The Vandenbergs believed that a member of the Air Force family should also attend, and Mrs. Vandenberg asked her friends to start attending services. She ultimately formed a group from the Officer’s Wives Club. In 1973, General Creighton Abrams’ wife, Julia, founded the Army’s version of the group. In 1985, the Navy created a group, and in 2006 the Coast Guard followed suit. The Marines do not officially have a group, as they send a representative of the Marine Commandant to every funeral. Today, the Air Force, Army, Navy and Coast Guard all have Arlington Ladies who perform similar volunteer duties, attending funeral services for active duty service members and veterans. The criteria to become an Arlington Lady is different for each military service, but each Lady has some connection to the respective service, generally as a current or former military member or as a spouse of a military member. The Ladies are an official part of the funeral service, representing the military service’s chief of staff or equivalent. They present cards of condolence to the next of kin from the military service chief and spouse on behalf of the service family, and from the Arlington Lady herself.” PC: @arlingtonmedia

The sun illuminates the front of a headstone in Section 75 of Arlington National Cemetery. Section 75 at Arlington National Cemetery was part of the cemetery’s 1968 expansion and is a section that Arlington Media frequents regularly to capture current services for loved ones in America’s most hallowed grounds.

Continue ReadingThe sun illuminates the front of a headstone in Section 75 of Arlington National Cemetery. Section 75 at Arlington National Cemetery was part of the cemetery’s 1968 expansion and is a section that Arlington Media frequents regularly to capture current services for loved ones in America’s most hallowed grounds.

A US Army caisson team carries the remains of an honored veteran through the hallowed grounds of Arlington National Cemetery during a full honors funeral service as captured by the @arlingtonmedia team.

Continue ReadingA US Army caisson team carries the remains of an honored veteran through the hallowed grounds of Arlington National Cemetery during a full honors funeral service as captured by the @arlingtonmedia team.

Pictured here is a flag unfurled at a service in Arlington National Cemetery. This flag honors a one star general officer during a full honors service in Arlington. Several hallmarks of services for General Officers include a caparisoned horse, a red flag with the number of stars awarded that General Officer, and a battery cannon salute. Army and Marine Corps colonels and General Officers may be provided a caparisoned (riderless) horse, if available. Army General Officers may receive a battery cannon salute (17 guns for a four-star general, 15 for a three-star, 13 for a two-star, 11 for a one-star), if available. Minute guns may be used for General Officers/Flag Officers of the Coast Guard, Marine Corps and Navy, if available. The President of the United States is entitled to a 21-gun salute, while other high state officials receive 19 guns.

Continue ReadingPictured here is a flag unfurled at a service in Arlington National Cemetery. This flag honors a one star general officer during a full honors service in Arlington. Several hallmarks of services for General Officers include a caparisoned horse, a red flag with the number of stars awarded that General Officer, and a battery cannon salute. Army and Marine Corps colonels and General Officers may be provided a caparisoned (riderless) horse, if available. Army General Officers may receive a battery cannon salute (17 guns for a four-star general, 15 for a three-star, 13 for a two-star, 11 for a one-star), if available. Minute guns may be used for General Officers/Flag Officers of the Coast Guard, Marine Corps and Navy, if available. The President of the United States is entitled to a 21-gun salute, while other high state officials receive 19 guns.

A cardinal perches atop the railing of the Millennium Project Section overlooking Section 28 of Arlington National Cemetery. Section 28 is home to Memorial Tree #33 which is the Vietnam Memorial Tree, titled, “No Greater Love”. No Greater Love is a Red Maple (Acer rubrum) native to the United States and covers this section with its beautiful leaves each fall. The grounds of Arlington National Cemetery feature 142 Memorial Trees, which serve as living memorials that commemorate military units and battles, veterans, families and others who serve. Many were dedicated by U.S. presidents, visiting dignitaries or representatives from service organizations. Thirty-six are Medal of Honor trees, each a descendent of a historic tree.

Continue ReadingA cardinal perches atop the railing of the Millennium Project Section overlooking Section 28 of Arlington National Cemetery. Section 28 is home to Memorial Tree #33 which is the Vietnam Memorial Tree, titled, “No Greater Love”. No Greater Love is a Red Maple (Acer rubrum) native to the United States and covers this section with its beautiful leaves each fall. The grounds of Arlington National Cemetery feature 142 Memorial Trees, which serve as living memorials that commemorate military units and battles, veterans, families and others who serve. Many were dedicated by U.S. presidents, visiting dignitaries or representatives from service organizations. Thirty-six are Medal of Honor trees, each a descendent of a historic tree.

A member of the 1st Battalion, 3d US Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) holds his saber during a US Army service in Arlington National Cemetery. Officers arriving to The Old Guard spend weeks training and practicing as part of their initial tasking to the unit. They learn how to execute formations, movements, and standard ceremonial procedures that are part of Dependent, Standard Honors, and Full Honors services at Arlington. Learning proper saber positioning and movements is critical to an individual soldier and his or her platoon being cemetery ready to honor America’s fallen heroes to the best of their abilities.

Continue ReadingA member of the 1st Battalion, 3d US Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) holds his saber during a US Army service in Arlington National Cemetery. Officers arriving to The Old Guard spend weeks training and practicing as part of their initial tasking to the unit. They learn how to execute formations, movements, and standard ceremonial procedures that are part of Dependent, Standard Honors, and Full Honors services at Arlington. Learning proper saber positioning and movements is critical to an individual soldier and his or her platoon being cemetery ready to honor America’s fallen heroes to the best of their abilities.